Edible Pet Chew

ABSTRACT

A method of forming an edible pet chew that has a first casing of rawhide-free edible material and a second protein of flavored material for example jerky that is wrapped with the first sheet to form alternating layers in the edible pet chew.

The field of this invention relates to an edible pet chew.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A visit to a pet supermarket makes it readily apparent that there is awide selection of rawhide and other synthetic chew toys manufactured andshaped for dogs and other carnivorous pets to chew on. Pet ownersbelieve chew toys are desirable for cleaning the teeth of dogs and otherpets, providing for dental hygiene and resulting in better breath. Thechew toys also distract the pet from chewing on other objects such asshoes or furniture.

Many of these chew toys have been made from synthetic materials such asplastic, for example, nylon or even rubber to provide a long lastingchew toy. These synthetic chew toys are indigestible and may pose ahealth risk if the dog bites off a portion and swallows it. Secondly,these toys may lose a dog's interest because the toy typically has noflavor or other chew incentive.

Other chew toys are made from rawhide or other animal hides. Rawhide andother animal hides have an advantage of being able to be rolled andknotted. Rawhide also provides structural rigidity, ductility anddurability for chewability. However, rawhide and other animal hides havelittle or no inherent flavor and thus may lose a dog's interest afteronly a short chew time. To overcome the lack of flavor and taste ofrawhide and other animal hides, many manufacturers have attempted to addflavor to the pet chew by adding jerky, natural flavors to be carried bythe structural rawhide and animal hides. Flavors may also be injectedinto the rawhide, marinated into the rawhide, wrapped in the rawhide orimpregnated into the rawhide.

Many people are concerned that the manufacture of rawhide and otheranimal hides is a relatively unregulated industry. The manufacturingsources of the rawhide or other animal hides may be unknown and thedegree of contamination of the rawhide or other animal hides withantibiotics, insecticides or other detrimental toxins for example, lead,may also be unknown. Furthermore, rawhide and other animal hides provideno nutritional benefits and are only slowly digestible if at all.

Rawhide in the world wide market is also becoming scarcer because thehides are being diverted for other purposes, for example, the productionof gelatin. As such, rawhide is becoming more difficult and moreexpensive to obtain resulting in more expense for rawhide treats forpets. These health and economic concerns initiate a desire for dogowners to seek alternative ways to provide an edible chew treat for apet without the use of rawhide or other animal hides.

Many pet chews recently placed on the market are made from a solidmolded wheat based material with glycerin, gelatin, monoglycerides ofedible fatty acid, and natural flavor. Some of these treats also containchlorophyll which is marketed to improve the dog's breath. One suchmolded plant material composite is molded into an elongated shape withone end shaped like a toothbrush head and an opposite end shaped like anepiphysis i.e. end of a long bone. However, molded pet treats withoutmeat lack a natural incentive for carnivorous pets. Pet chews withoutrawhide or other hides were molded into thicker shapes for structuralintegrity. Sheets of vegetable material up till now lacked the neededstructural integrity and cohesiveness to stay together.

Co-extruded or molded products have been developed with both a vegetablebased outer layer and inner meat based core to provide a meat incentivefor a carnivorous pet. However, these co-extruded or molded pet treatslack a knot at one or both ends. The combination of a knot made fromsheets of hide material allows for the dog to first grab or hold downthe pet treat by clamping its paws down on the knot. Further, themultiple sheets allow the dog to pull the treat apart with its teeth. Itis believed that the combination of two abilities, the ability of thedog to hold down the knotted treat with its paws, and the ability of thedog to pull on the treat with its teeth provides for a desirable treat.This accounts for the extreme popularity of knotted pet treats comparedto extruded or molded pet treats.

Even though rawhide treats remain popular, a treat made from wholesheets of rawhide are prone to produce waste which adds to the expenseof the treat. A layer of rawhide or composite with rawhide and a layeror sheet of jerky laid onto the rawhide layer requires the layers to beassembled and wrapped together and then knotted to provide a bone likeappearance. This assembly can be relatively expensive

What is needed is an improved edible pet chew that has an outer layer ofhardened and chewable pet treat and having a tied knot that a dog canhold down with its paws while pulling apart with its teeth and israwhide free and other animal hide free.

What is also needed is a fully digestible pet treat that has a knottedend to provide a meat incentive catering to the carnivorous nature of adog that is free of rawhide and other animal hides.

What is needed is an improved edible pet chew that is economical tomanufacture with a malleable sheet of hardened edible material made thatis free of rawhide and other animal hides that is initially malleablefor folding, rolling or flexing into a final shape and catering to thecarnivorous nature of a dog.

What is also needed is an improved edible pet chew made from aco-extruded sheet of initially malleable but hardenable material thathas co-extruded sections that have a different appearance or flavor.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an edible pet chewhas a first sheet made of hardened chewable rawhide free and animal hidefree composite material and a second sheet of a chewy edible material.The first and second sheets are superimposed adjacent each other into acomposite assembly with the first sheet and second sheet formingalternating layers in the composite assembly. The first and secondsheets are dimensioned large enough and thin enough from the compositionto be initially malleable by flexing folding or rolling into a shape. Inone embodiment, the first malleable sheet is made from a plant basedmaterial. In another embodiment, it may be a meat based or animal basedmaterial. In either case, it is materially animal hide free andparticularly rawhide free.

Preferably, the first malleable sheet is wrapped about the second sheet.The first and second sheets wrap into a roll form to form an interleavedspiral shape in cross-section with the first sheet substantially forminga hardened layer of the edible pet chew. The first sheet is made from aninitially malleable and hardenable sheet. The first sheet may be, in oneembodiment, substantially plant base wheat protein and gelatin. Inanother embodiment, the first sheet may be a plant starch mixture. Inanother embodiment, the first sheet may be substantially a meat mixturethat may also include gelatin and/or plant material e.g. starch or plantprotein. Gelatin can also be added to provide malleability forextrusion, molding and other bending and forming and ductility forchewing.

In one embodiment, the edible pet chew has a tied knot at each endthereof to resemble epiphyses of a bone. The second sheet may be formedfrom a meat composite bound with a binder. In one embodiment, the secondsheet may be formed from a jerky of dried or cured animal flesh. Thecomposite sheets are made such that the outer layer is harder than theinner layer and has ductility for chewing.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the edible pet chewincludes a casing of substantially hardened chewable edible materialthat is rawhide or animal hide free with a chewy edible member therein.Preferably, the outer casing is in the form of a first sheet thatprovides an outer layer of the edible pet chew. The chewy edible membertherein is substantially inside the edible pet chew and may be a curedor dried animal flesh, i.e. meat.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of formingan edible pet chew includes providing composition material made fromrawhide free and animal hide free edible material that is extrudable orsheetable and initially malleable forming the initially malleable firstsheet, providing a second sheet made from material having flavor,placing the first and second sheets in superimposed relation formingmultiple layers and hardening the first sheet after it is formed withthe second sheet. Preferably the first and second sheets are rolledtogether and preferably rolled with the first sheet forming an outerlayer. Preferably, the ends of the edible pet chew are tied into knotsbefore hardening of the first sheet. The method also includes wrappingthe first sheet about the second sheet to form an outer layer of theedible pet chew. In one embodiment there is only a single sheet of theanimal flesh composition material that is rolled and tied into knots ateach end to form the edible pet treat.

According to another aspect of the invention, an edible pet chew has asingle malleable sheet made from rawhide and animal hide free ediblematerial where the single sheet is dimensioned large enough and thinenough to be initially malleable for flexing folding or rolling into afinal shape. The single malleable sheet is preferably rolled and knottedat each end to form the final shape of the pet chew. In one embodiment,the single sheet is a hardened chewable substantially plant basedmaterial. In another embodiment, the single sheet is made fromsubstantially animal flesh. In one embodiment, the single malleablesheet has chunks of the cured or dried animal flesh material embeddedtherein.

In one embodiment, the single sheet is rolled to form a cylindrical rolland has a first edge section having a different appearance or flavorfrom a mid-section of the single sheet. The first edge section ispositioned at an outer edge of the cylindrical roll. Preferably, thesingle sheet has first and second co-extruded areas with differentappearances or flavors from each other.

According to another aspect of the invention, an edible pet chew has amalleable sheet co-extruded with a first edge section having a differentappearance or flavor from a mid-section of the malleable sheet. Thefirst edge section is preferably positioned at an outer edge of the petchew and is part of the knot at one or both ends of the pet chew that ishardened into a final shape.

Preferably, a first section of the co-extruded single sheet has a firstappearance or first flavor. A second section of the co-extruded sheethas a second appearance or second flavor. The malleable sheet is shapedby flexing, folding or rolling before hardening into its final shape. Inanother embodiment, the first and second sections are respective firstand second layers of a co-extruded malleable sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first sheet of a substantiallyanimal flesh based material with a second jerky sheet laid over thefirst sheet in preparation of forming an edible pet chew in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the edible pet chew;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment having two knotted ends to simulate theepiphyses of a bone with a diaphysis in the middle;

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view showing a plurality of meat flavored stripsplaced on top of the first sheet in preparation of forming anotheralternate embodiment of a pet chew;

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of an edible pet treat formed fromthe sheets shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of an edible pet treat formed alsofrom the sheets shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of another embodiment of an edible pet chew;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a single sheet of a substantiallyanimal flesh based material forming an edible pet chew in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the edible pet chewusing the single sheet shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another embodiment having two knotted ends to simulate theepiphyses of a bone with a diaphysis in the middle using the singlesheet shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a single co-extruded sheet of ananimal flesh based material forming an edible pet chew in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the edible pet chewusing the single sheet shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another embodiment having two knotted ends to simulate theepiphyses of a bone with a diaphysis in the middle using the singlesheet shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a single sheet of animal fleshbased material with embedded chunks of meat interspersed throughoutforming an edible pet chew in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the edible pet chewusing the single sheet shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is another embodiment having two knotted ends to simulate theepiphyses of a bone with a diaphysis in the middle using the singlesheet shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is another embodiment showing an alternate shape of a pet chewwith a malleable sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first sheet 10 of an extruded or rollededible composition that is rawhide and animal skin free. It may be made,for example, of plant starch mixed with gelatin or other binder. Anothercomposition may be a plant protein mixed with gelatin or other binder.Another composition may be substantially animal innards i.e. meat andtissue, organs and/or bones for example beef, pork, chicken and fishwith or without plant material blended in. The animal innards as definedfor these purposes is the animal flesh, i.e. muscle, connective tissues,organs and bones, but excludes skins or hides e.g. rawhide. Thiscomposition does not include any material amounts of hides, or skins,e.g. rawhide. Gelatin may be added to provide moldability and ductility.The material composition can provide sufficient malleability,moldability, extrudability, and formability as set forth in furtherdetail below. Other plant materials may be substituted for the abovementioned plant materials as long as the material is a cohesive materialthat can be rolled and formed in a malleable state and eventuallyhardened by heat or drying into a structurally self-supporting hardenedbut ductile and chewable matter for use by a carnivorous pet. The sheet10 may be formed by extrusion, pressing or rolling or injection moldingfor example.

A second sheet 12 may be made from flavored material, for example,natural meat jerky or a chicken jerky composition that is a mixture ofmeat and other binders to form a chewable composite that is malleableenough to be rollable. The first sheet 10 is harder and has greaterchewing duration than the second sheet 12. In another variation, thesecond sheet 12 may also be made from an initially malleable animalflesh based sheet that is impregnated with meat, chicken, fish or jerkypieces or merely infused with flavors attractive to a pet. The sheet 12is superimposed over the first sheet 10. In those preferred embodiments,each sheet 10 and 12 is substantially free of rawhide or other animalhides.

The side edges 18 of the second sheet may be coextensive, i.e. alignedwith the side edges 16 of the first sheet 10. The front edge 22 of thesecond sheet may overlap the front edge 20 of sheet 10.

Once the first and second sheets 10 and 12 as shown in FIG. 1, areflattened out, they are then rolled up as shown in FIG. 2 to form acylinder shaped edible pet chew 14 having rolled ends 24 withinterleaved layers of sheet 10 and sheet 12 with aligned edges 16 and18. The sheets 10 and 12 form an interleaved spiral shape incross-section. The sheets 10 and 12 are rolled such that the sheet 10forms the outer layer 26. The front edge 22 of sheet 12 by extendingfurther than the front edge 20 of sheet 10 forms a lip 28. The lips 28project out of the seam 30 in the outer layer 26 adjacent the edge 20 ofsheet 10. The cylinder shaped pet chew 14 is then allowed to dry toharden the composition forming the first sheet 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, an alternate shaped pet chew 114 can be formed tomore closely simulate an elongated bone with an elongated middle section115 also referred to as a diaphysis and opposite simulated epiphyses 117formed by knots 132 tied at each end 24 of the cylinder shaped assembly14 as shown in FIG. 2 before it is hardened. The alternately shapededible pet chew 114 still has the same aligned edges 16, and 18 and thesame lip 28 of the second sheet protruding out of seam 30 at theepiphyses 117 as well as therebetween is elongated middle section 115.

Another alternate embodiment composite sheet assembly 190 is shown inFIG. 4 where instead of single sheet of jerky material is disposed onsheet 10, a plurality of elongated strips of jerky i.e. narrow sheets112 are spaced apart onto sheet 10. The narrow sheets 112 each have afront edge 122 extending beyond edge 20 of sheet 10. The sheet assembly190 is laid flat and then rolled in the same fashion as before to formthe cylinder assembly 214 shown in FIG. 5 that has at seam 30 aplurality of exposed lips 128 of the sheets 112. Again, this cylindershape treat 214 may be dried and hardened as is or can be knotted in thesame fashion as before to form the bone shaped pet treat 314 as shown inFIG. 6 with the exposed lips 128 formed in the knot ends 132 as well asthe elongated middle section 115.

In a further embodiment, the elongated strips 112 may be laid transverseto what is shown in FIG. 4 so that when the sheets 110 and 112 arerolled, they produce an edible pet chew with an end as shown in FIG. 7with an exposed solid lip 28 and a plurality of spaced sheets 112 withinthe outer layer 26 of sheet 10. Again, the cylinder may be allowed todry and harden in this position or tied into a knot to form an ediblepet chew that looks on the exterior substantially like the one shown inFIG. 3.

It is foreseen that more than one first sheet 10 and more than onesecond sheet 12 of the flavor material may be used. It is also foreseenthat the plurality of sheets 10, 12 may be interlayered without rollingto form a flat rectangular or other shaped edible pet chew. Thecomposite pet chew may also be rolled, wrapped or folded into anothershaped pet chew, for example, a treat 960 that has outer layer 965folded over a meat layer 975 and rolled into a tubular shape withpointed tapered ends 970 and has overlapping section 977 or connected toapex 980 as shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 8 illustrates a single malleable edible sheet 410. In oneembodiment, it is made from a rawhide free animal hide free ediblecomposition.

The single sheet 410 can be formed by extrusion, rolling, pressing orother process so that it is flat and thin. Its thickness preferablyranges from 2 mm to 5 mm. The sheet has width and length dimensionspreferably ranging from 10 cm to 20 cm each. The composition of thesingle malleable sheet 410 may be the same blends or composition as theabove-described first sheet 10. The composition may be modified as longas the material is a cohesive material that can be rolled and formed ina malleable state and eventually hardened by heat or drying into aself-supporting hardened but chewable matter for use by a carnivorouspet.

The single sheet 410 has a first edge section 412 and a second edgesection 414 that may have a visually distinctive appearance, forexample, a different color or texture from the remaining mid-section 413of the sheet 410. In addition or alternatively, the edges 412, 414 mayhave a different flavor from the remaining mid-section 413. In oneembodiment, the edge sections 412, 414 may be colored red to simulate abeef jerky. The edge sections 412, 414 may also have a different higherpercentage of meat or other attractive scent or flavor infused orotherwise added to them than the midsection 413. The flavor additive maybe either artificial or real.

The single sheet 410 as shown in FIG. 8 is then rolled up as shown inFIG. 9 to form a cylinder roll shaped edible pet chew 416. The pet chew416 has end sections 425 that appear from an end view to have a spiralshape 418. The edge section 414 is near the center or interior of thepet chew 416. The edge section 12 of single sheet 10 is positioned atthe exterior side of pet chew 416 and provides an illusion that a pieceof beef jerky extends out of a roll. The cylinder shaped pet chew 416 isthen allowed to dry to harden the composition forming the single sheet10.

As shown in FIG. 10, an alternate shaped pet chew 516 can be formed tomore closely simulate an elongated bone with an elongated middle section515 also referred to as a diaphysis and opposite simulated epiphyses 517formed by knots 532 tied at each end section 425 of the cylinder shapedassembly 416 as shown in FIG. 9 before it's hardened. The alternatelyshaped edible pet chew 516 still has the same flavored or colored edgesection 412, positioned at an outer portion of the epiphyses 517 as wellas at the exterior side of the elongated middle section 515 to stimulatea beef jerky strip extending out of the bone. Edge section 414 ispositioned to the interior of the pet chew 516.

Another alternate embodiment of the sheet for making a pet chew is shownin FIGS. 11-13 which show a single co-extruded sheet 610. The coextrudedsheet has two layers, one layer 612 has a different flavor or a visuallydistinctive appearance for example, a different color or texture fromthe other layer 614 of single sheet 610. In one embodiment, the layer612 may be colored red to simulate a beef jerky. The flavor additive mayagain be either artificial or real. The co-extruded sheet can be asquare or rectangular shape with edges 620, 622, 624 and 626.

The single sheet 610 as shown in FIG. 11 is then rolled up as shown inFIG. 12 to form a cylinder shaped edible pet chew 616. The pet chew 616has end sections 625 that appear from an end view to have a spiral shape618. The sheet 610 is rolled such that the layer 614 is considered theinner layer. The layer 612 of sheet 610 is positioned at the exteriorside of the rolled pet chew 616. Edges 620, 622, 624, and 626 of layer614 are visible after the rolled pet chew 216 is formed. The edges 620,622, 624, and 626 of layer 614 form the illusion of beef jerky rolledinto the rolled pet chew 616. The cylinder shaped pet chew 616 is thenallowed to dry to harden the composition forming the single sheet 610.

As shown in FIG. 13, an alternate shaped pet chew 716 can be formed tomore closely simulate an elongated bone with an elongated middle section715 also referred to as a diaphysis and opposite simulated epiphyses 717formed by knots 732 tied at each end section 625 of the cylinder shapedassembly 616 as shown in FIG. 12 before it's hardened. The alternatelyshaped edible pet chew 716 has the flavored, textured or colored layer614 with the edge 624 of layer 614 exposed at the epiphyses 717 as wellas at the elongated middle section 715.

Another alternate embodiment of a single sheet 810 for making a pet chewis shown in FIGS. 14-16 which shows a single extruded sheet 810 withflavor chunks 811 of dried meat or other flavored food stuff embeddedtherein. The chunks 811 are preferably visible from either side of thesingle sheet 810. The single sheet 810 as shown in FIG. 14 is thenrolled up as shown in FIG. 15 to form a cylinder shaped edible pet chew816. The pet chew 816 has rolled end sections 825 that appear from anend view to have a spiral shape 818. The cylinder shaped pet chew 816 isthen allowed to dry to harden the composition forming the single sheet810.

As shown in FIG. 16, an alternate shaped pet chew 916 can be formed tomore closely simulate an elongated bone with an elongated middle section915 also referred to as a diaphysis and opposite simulated epiphyses 917formed by knots 932 tied at each end 825 of the cylinder shaped assembly816 as shown in FIG. 15 before it's hardened. The alternately shapededible pet chew 916 has the chunks 811 embedded in the sheet 810 andvisible at an outer portion of the epiphyses 917 as well as therebetweenat the exterior side of the elongated middle section 915. Depending onthe desired size of the chunks 811, the chunks 811 may either beextruded with the remaining animal flesh/plant composition or rolledinto the composition after it is extruded.

It should be understood that the above described co-extruded sheet 410,multi-layer sheet 610 and embedded sheet 810 can also be substituted forthe sheet 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-7.

Reference now is made to FIG. 17 which discloses another embodiment of apet chew 960 according to the invention. Pet chew 960 has an outer chewlayer 965 folded over an edible meat layer 975. Two diagonal oppositecorners 977 are then lifted to roll the pet chew into its final shapewith an apex 980. Two opposite corners 970 form tapered ends of the petchew 960. The pet chew is then hardened in this shape.

In this fashion, by providing an edible pet chew with a hardened andchewable or casing made from edible material instead of rawhide oranimal hides, one avoids all the concerns, whether real or perceived, orwhether nutritional or economical regarding the use of rawhide or animalhides. Secondly, the composite material has inherent nutrition and maybe easily provided with added nutritional ingredients such as vitaminsand minerals if desired. The use of animal flesh and/or animal innardsin the treats caters to the natural carnivorous nature of dogs andprovides for a desirable pet chew and provides a chew that a dog willnot lose interest in after only a short period of time.

Other variations and modifications are possible without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

The embodiments in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimedare defined as follows:
 1. A method of forming an edible pet chew, saidmethod comprising: providing an edible rawhide-free mixture that isextrudable and initially malleable; forming said initially malleablerawhide-free edible mixture into a first sheet that is dimensioned largeenough and thin enough to be initially malleable and cohesive afterextrusion for use as a wrap by flexing, folding or rolling into a shape;providing a second sheet made from flavored digestible and ediblematerial; placing said first and second sheets in superimposed relation;wrapping said first sheet with said second sheet by rolling said firstand second sheets up to have said first sheet and second sheet formingalternating layers; and hardening said first sheet after it is wrappedwith said second sheet such that said first sheet provides a hardenedchewable wrap.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:tying the ends of said edible pet chew into knots before hardening saidfirst sheet.
 3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein: said first sheetcomprises a substantially plant based composition; and said second sheetcomprises a meat based material.
 4. A method as defined in claim 3wherein: said first sheet comprises from a plant based and gelatincomposition; and said second sheet comprises a meat jerky.
 5. A methodas defined in claim 4 further comprising: said wrapping includeswrapping of said first sheet when malleable about said second sheet toform an outer layer of said edible pet chew.
 6. A method as defined inclaim 1 wherein: said wrapping includes wrapping of said first sheetwhen malleable about said second sheet to form an outer layer of saidedible pet chew.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein: said firstsheet comprises a substantially plant based composition; and said secondsheet comprises a meat based material.
 8. A method as defined in claim 7wherein: said first sheet comprises from a plant based and gelatincomposition; and said second sheet comprises a meat jerky.
 9. A methodas defined in claim 8 further comprising: said wrapping includeswrapping of said first sheet when malleable about said second sheet toform an outer layer of said edible pet chew.